TackleTour Holiday Gift Guide
2010 Part 1 - Reels and Rods to Crank up the Season (continued)

Something for the kids
(Shakespeare EZ Cast): If you have a jr. angler in the house then
Shakespeare has a new combo that is perfect for kids. The EZ Cast makes use of a
revolutionary anti-backlash system that prevents backlashes for anglers of all
skill levels all the way down to those with absolutely zero experience. The EZ Cast low profile
automatically throttles down the revolutions of the spool when line speed and
spool speed are not lining up.

Want to bring home something for
the kids? get them started on baitcasting with the affordable EZ Cast

When the angler gains confidence the feature can
be turned off to function like a normal low profile reel.
The EZ Cast reel comes pre-spooled with 10lb.Stren line and retails for only
$39.99 by itself or just 10 dollars more with a two piece rod.

For saltwater anglers this season
Shimano has redesigned the top selling Trinidad series and packs it with new
provisions for improved corrosion resistance

Saltwater Reel (Shimano
Trinidad A): Shimano's new Trinidad A features a new look and has the
refinement to back to it all up courtesy of the company's X-Ship gear support
system fir enhanced efficiency and smoothness. The new reel had a lot to live up
to as the previous generation Trin is a favorite among serious saltwater anglers
and charter captains. The new reel is designed to be every bit as tough but
deliver that same level of performance in a lighter, smaller and more compact
footprint. Shimano even developed a new surface and spool treatment for extreme
corrosion protection. To stop fish in their tracks the Trinidad A also makes use
of a new Dartanium II woven carbon fiber drag. The Trinidad A retails for
$444-499 dollars depending on size and will be available at Hi's
Tackle Box.

Saltwater Rod (Shimano
Trevala S): We were already fans of Shimano's previous generation Trevala
rod but the new "S" model takes the series to the next level with new C4S
construction that improves hoop strength and sensitivity while reducing overall
diameter of the blank, the result is a rod that feels even more lightweight and
sensitive. Designed for shallow butterfly jig spinning and casting Shimano
offers these rods in a complete range with very specific actions. The new rod
also improves ergonomics with custom shaped EVA handles with a split grip and
you don't need to worry about muscling fish with a over the counter Lifetime
Warranty included. The Shimano Trevala S is available now for $159-169 dollars
at Hi's Tackle Box.

For the enthusiast anglers it just
doesn't get much better than the Daiwa Exist Hyper Branzino Custom

Enthusiast Reel (Daiwa
Exist Hyper Branzino Custom): Just when you thought it was safe to browse
the enthusiast reel market and resist temptation because of the weak US Dollar
and homogenized product between markets, Daiwa once again that they know how to
push the right buttons. The Exist Hyper Branzino is a supertuned version of
Daiwa Japan’s Exist Spinning reel and shares similar guts to the popular
Morethan Branzino which was based on the Certate. This 2500 sized reel has the
gearbox from a 3000 gears cut from the same material as the robust Saltiga Z
spinning reels. Availability is limited, but if you’re a true enthusiast that
only makes this reel more tempting. Expect to pay in excess of $1000 for this
gem. Our recommendation? Contact JapanTackle.com and have them hunt it down for you.

The Megabass Orochi F6 rod may not
be cheap but it is ultra refined and thinner and lighter than previous
generation counterparts

Enthusiast Rod (Megabass Orochi F6-72X4
Destruction): Earlier this year, Megabass upped the ante in the graphite
cross weave blank race with the introduction of their new Orochi X4 line. These
rods are thinner, faster, and lighter than their previous generation
counterparts and though the X4 are priced low for Megabass standards (right
around $500 each), they maintain that high end feel. The F6-72X4 Destruction
makes a fantastic stick for baits like the Basstrix and even frogs. Look for the
entire X4 line to show up soon in Megabass approved tackle shops, but for now
until distribution picks up, you can get yours by contacting Megabass USA directly.

Any guesses as to who is Naughty
and who is Nice?

Stay tuned as we get into the
second half of our Holiday Gift guide and the girls showcase a complete
assortment of lures, apparel, accessories and even a few fly fishing products.
On top of that we also take a look behind the scenes.